Students created over 20,000 stories on Term 2 Storyathon “A Different World – Living in Lockdown”. It has provided tremendous insight into how children across various ages and locations have responded to the incredibly challenging times.
The insights have received considerable media attention as well.
The Weekend Australian published 20 – 21 June 2020: Lockdown locks in new words for corona kids
- Education Today’s article on 22 June 2020, Children tell stories of social awareness.
- SchoolNews Australia’s article on 24 June 2020, Children’s storytelling data reveals impact of COVID on literacy.
- Medical Xpress’s article published 26 June 2020, Language reveals children’s pandemic perspective.
- ABC Adelaide’s Saturday Saturday Breakfast with Deb Tribe on 27 June 2020 featured Anne Bayetto, literacy expert at Flinders University. Anne spoke with Deb Stribe about what we learned from Storyathon’s Term 2 theme ‘lockdown’ stories. Listen from 1.24.
- EducationHQ’s article on 25 June 2020, Data reveals virus’ impact on children’s vocabulary and social awareness.
It’s an honour to present the winning stories. These were the most popular finalist stories as voted by the students. It’s always wonderful to see that the students select such fine stories. We are especially pleased to see that a poem was one of the choices!
Special mention about St Joseph’s College in Toowoomba, Queensland who remarkably achieved four students in the Top 10 of the Lower Secondary division.
Middle Primary
National Champion – Australia: Bronte H, Corpus Christi Catholic School, TAS
National Champion – New Zealand: Kirra P, Koromatua School, WKO
Top 10 (alphabetical order)
| Bronte, Corpus Christi Catholic School – TAS, AU |
| Elissa, Loftus Public School – NSW, AU |
| Henry, Christ Church Grammar School – WA, AU |
| Isaac, St Josephs catholic School – NSW, AU |
| Kirra, Koromatua School – WKO, NZ |
| Levi, Lumen Christi – GGL, AU |
| Louis, Pukerau School – STL, NZ |
| Maddelin, St Mary’s Memorial School – SA, AU |
| Shiloh, Remarkables Primary School – OTG, NZ |
| Tobias, Christ Church Grammar School – WA, AU |
Upper Primary
National Champion – Australia: Samantha C, St Peter’s Primary School, NSW
National Champion – New Zealand: Stephens N, St Mary’s Catholic School (Rotorua), BOP
Top 10 (alphabetical order)
| Charley, St Peter’s Primary School – NSW, AU |
| Edwin, Waitara Public School – NSW, AU |
| Harry, Sydney Grammar School – NSW, AU |
| Luke, Aubin Grove Primary School – WA, AU |
| Marley, St Peter’s Primary School – NSW, AU |
| Ruby, Liwara Catholic School – WA, AU |
| Samantha, St Peter’s Primary School – NSW, AU |
| Samuel, Bethania Lutheran Primary School – QLD, AU |
| Stephens, St Mary’s Catholic School (Rotorua) – BOP, NZ |
| Tyler, Waitoki School – AUK, NZ |
| Willow, St James’ Primary School – NSW, AU |
Lower Secondary
National Champion – Australia: Charlotte B, St Joseph’s College, QLD
National Champion – New Zealand: Paris G, St Mary’s School (Avondale), AUK
Top 10 (alphabetical order)
| Charlotte, St Joseph’s College – QLD, AU |
| Emily, West Moreton Anglican College – QLD, AU |
| Isabella P, St Joseph’s College – QLD, AU |
| Isabella D, St Joseph’s College – QLD, AU |
| Jasmine, West Moreton Anglican College – QLD, AU |
| Kyra, Tai Tapu School – CAN, NZ |
| Mia, St Joseph’s College – QLD, AU |
| Natalia, Hunua School – AUK, NZ |
| Paris, St Mary’s School (Avondale) – AUK, NZ |
| Sophia, Robina State High School – QLD, AU Storyathon is an exciting and free online event where students are challenged to write a story that is exactly 100 words. Since launching in August 2019, Storyathon has quickly become Australia’s largest story writing program with more than 50,000 stories already written. Teachers, feel free to join in at www.storyathon.com |
